法拉古特人物志 | 4%录取率下的天津唯一！TFS助Howard逐梦牛津之巅

2025年1月，牛津大学（QS世界大学综合排名TOP3）放榜的钟声叩响全球学子的梦想之门。当录取捷报跨越山海传至天津，张桐语Howard以天津2025年唯一牛津本科录取者的身份，在教育版图上镌刻下耀眼坐标。

Howard与天津法拉古特学校创始人杨晓柯老师、

执行校长高越老师合影

这位极具爆发力的物理少年为母校摘得校史首枚牛津大学录取通知书：牛津大学St John's College物理专业（该学院2025年位列牛津学术排名第一，其物理专业全球录取率仅4%，每年录取名额不足20人）。这一突破意味着他战胜了来自全球的数以千计竞争者，其中包括众多国际物理奥赛奖牌得主。与此同时，他还收获了帝国理工物理专业的橄榄枝，用实力在顶尖学府的录取舞台上书写双份辉煌。

张桐语（Howard）出生于天津的书香世家，四岁那年，他跟随父母移民加拿大。在枫叶之国的成长岁月里，父母始终以开放包容的态度，守护着他对科学的天然好奇——他们尊重孩子“想研究宇宙”的选择，允许他用课余时间探索天文知识，从不以“成绩”或“实用主义”限制兴趣的边界。这种“以热爱为原点”的成长环境，让他的科学志趣得以自由扎根。

Howard与爸爸妈妈和妹妹

自幼年起，浩瀚宇宙便是他心中的神秘课堂。他常常捧着科普书籍专注阅读，主动向父母提出：想了解黑洞、想观测星象，而父母总会给予充分的支持与引导。这份不加干预的成长空间，让他对科学的追问从未停止：从星系如何演化，到物质如何构成，每一个疑问都成为驱动他深入探索的动力。

这份对科学纯粹的热爱，在六年级时迎来了绽放的时刻。“我至今记得站在教室前方，用投影仪向同学们讲解黑洞视界的场景。”Howard的眼中泛起光芒，“当二十多位同学自发为我鼓掌时，我突然领悟到，物理不仅是冰冷的公式与定理，更是能点燃求知热情的火炬。”那一刻，探索物质世界本质的理想，如同深埋地下的种子，在好奇心的滋养下破土而出，指引着他未来的方向。

飞机上的Howard不忘做题

他想对爸爸妈妈说：我非常感谢父母对我的支持，无论在物质上还是精神上。给予我选择自己想要的生活方式，做自己喜欢的工作是一辈子幸福的事。

怀揣着对英国顶尖学府的憧憬，Howard加入了天津法拉古特学校。入校伊始，他的学术天赋便崭露头角，学校基于他的学术禀赋与英国名校目标为其量身定制“理科深耕” 策略：明确聚焦数学、进阶数学、物理、化学核心学科，摒弃广而泛的文科拓展，以 “学术尖兵” 路径锚定专业方向。“在这里，‘与众不同’从不是阻碍，而是被托举着向上的阶梯。”他谈及这段经历时感慨道。

Howard与英联邦课程方向教师合影

Howard在课程选择上展现出清晰的目标感，十年级便主动挑战AMC 12、BPhO Round 1、物理碗D2等国际竞赛，十一年级在导师推荐下加入美国 LUMIERE科研计划，与剑桥大学天体物理学专家合作完成科研论文。这段以“研究者”视角深入学术领域的经历，不仅让他收获了导师的高度评价，更成为牛津申请文书中极具说服力的“学科热忱见证”。

申请季中，学校成熟的“双导师制”成为关键助力。既有毕业于顶尖院校且教学经验丰富的学科导师夯实学术根基，也有深耕国际留学领域的生涯规划师把控全局。

当Howard在准备牛津面试的关键阶段遭遇学术瓶颈时，法耀教育集团副总裁高乃思老师展现出顶尖学者的专业风范。这位兼具麻省理工学院数学与金融双学位、哈佛大学肯尼迪政府学院公共政策硕士背景的跨学科学者，凭借其在美国顶尖学术圈深耕15年的独特优势，为Howard提供了极具战略性的指导。

从文书核心论点的学术性提升，到研究设计的结构性优化；从模拟面试中的专业术语精准运用，到学术答辩的国际化表达范式——高乃思老师以其在数学建模与公共政策交叉领域的深厚造诣，为Howard构建起符合牛津标准的学术话语体系。尤为可贵的是，她将哈佛肯尼迪学院培养的全球视野与MIT严谨的科研方法论完美融合，使Howard的申请材料既彰显学术深度，又体现人文关怀。

Howard与法耀教育集团副总裁高乃思老师及妈妈的合影

与此同时，升学指导李老师与杭老师默契配合，从文书框架搭建到细节优化层层把关、精益求精，在策略制定与落地执行间形成闭环，为申请提供全流程专业支持。

正是在前期策略的精准锚定、导师团队的无缝接力，以及他自身的不懈努力下，这份汇聚多方智慧与心血的申请答卷，最终赢得了牛津大学的青睐。

他说：目前广义相对论与量子力学的“万物理论”仍无突破，我的科研也是广义相对论黑洞方向的，我想为世界物理做出贡献，哪怕一点点。

Howard将自己的牛津之路总结为一句箴言：“早规划者掌先机，善借力者行更远”。在给学弟学妹的分享中，他反复强调“精准定位”的重要性：“高中不是盲目堆砌活动的赛场，而是寻找学术坐标的黄金期。”十年级，他通过全方位测评锁定物理方向并聚焦核心竞赛，十一年级全身心投入科研论文，十二年级进行文书打磨，每一步都踩着时间管理的节拍器。

Howard与父母及妹妹共同参加天津法拉古特学校

拔尖创新人才发展中心揭牌仪式

在法拉古特，像Howard这样的优秀学生并非孤军奋战。学校设立的“拔尖创新人才发展中心”专门为有志于冲刺世界顶尖名校的学生提供系统性支持。“中心”整合国内外优质教育资源，构建“学术深耕-创新能力-全球视野”三维培育体系，通过个性化学术规划、高端竞赛辅导、科研项目孵化等方式，帮助学生在学术、科研和竞赛中突破自我。

Howard作为优秀学生代表在天津法拉古特学校拔尖创新人才发展中心揭牌仪式上发言

在Howard看来，法拉古特的课堂始终在培养“解决问题的思维模式”。无论是PBL项目中用物理模型分析现实议题，还是实验室里自主设计的光学实验，都在潜移默化中塑造着他“像研究者一样思考”的习惯。这些能力储备，成为他在牛津面试中应对深度学术追问的致胜密钥。

Howard在法拉古特Offer荣誉墙留影

如今，即将启程牛津的他，总会想起在法拉古特实验室度过的日夜——那些与导师探讨黑洞模型的深夜，为竞赛题争得面红耳赤的课堂，以及完成第一次独立科研时的欣喜。当问及他对十年后的自己有什么期待？他回答道：“我希望十年后的自己能够成为物理科研领域的一份子，为母校争光。”

Howard收到Offer时，在学校留影纪念

老师们同学们：

三年真的过得好快啊！还记得刚入学时的懵懂，现在居然要毕业了。特别想感谢所有帮助过我的人。首先感谢校长对我一直以来的信任，班主任对我的关怀。在申请季中，高乃思老师以专业的视角帮我一遍遍改文书、做模拟面试，还一直鼓励我，真的让我信心倍增！还有李婕老师和杭老师，不厌其烦地帮我打磨申请细节，真的太感谢了！当然，还有我的同学们，一起熬夜、一起奋斗的日子，我会一直记得。未来不管去哪，我都会带着这里的回忆和大家的支持，继续努力！

——张桐语Howard

「 注：“人物志”发布顺序按照预约采访时间及提供资料时间进行安排」

撰文、摄影 | 法拉古特学校品宣部

内容及图片来源 | 张桐语Howard

In January 2025, the bell tolling the release of Oxford University's admissions results (ranked among the top three in the QS World University Rankings) opened the door to the dreams of students around the world. When the news of admission crossed mountains and seas to reach Tianjin, Howard, as the only student from Tianjin to be admitted to Oxford University in 2025, carved out a dazzling mark on the educational landscape.

Howard poses for a photo with Yang Xiaoke, founder of Farragut School in Tianjin, and Gao Yue, executive principal.

This highly talented physics prodigy secured his alma mater's first-ever admission offer from the University of Oxford: a place in the Physics program at St John's College, Oxford (the college ranked first in Oxford's academic rankings for 2025, with a global admission rate of just 4% for its Physics program and fewer than 20 spots available each year). This breakthrough signifies that he has outshone thousands of global competitors, including numerous medalists from international physics olympiads. Meanwhile, he also received an offer from Imperial College London's Physics program, demonstrating his exceptional talent and achieving dual success on the admission stage of top-tier institutions.

Howard was born into a scholarly family in Tianjin. At the age of four, he immigrated to Canada with his parents. During his formative years in the Maple Leaf Country, his parents consistently nurtured his innate curiosity about science with an open and inclusive mindset—they respected his choice to “study the universe,” allowing him to explore astronomical knowledge during his free time, never restricting his interests with concerns about “academic performance” or “practicality.” This environment, rooted in passion, allowed his scientific interests to flourish freely.

Howard with his parents and sister

From an early age, the vast universe was a mysterious classroom in his heart. He often pored over popular science books and eagerly asked his parents about black holes and star observations, and they always gave him their full support and guidance. This unhindered space for growth allowed him to continue his pursuit of science: from how galaxies evolve to how matter is composed, every question became a driving force for him to explore further.

This pure love for science reached its peak in sixth grade. “I still remember standing at the front of the classroom, using a projector to explain the event horizon of a black hole to my classmates,” Howard said, his eyes sparkling. “When more than 20 classmates spontaneously applauded me, I suddenly realized that physics is not just cold formulas and theorems, but a torch that ignites the passion for knowledge.” At that moment, the ideal of exploring the essence of the material world, like a seed buried deep underground, sprouted under the nourishment of curiosity, guiding the direction of his future.

Howard didn't forget to do 

his homework on the plane.

He wants to say to his parents: I am very grateful to my parents for their support, both materially and emotionally. Giving me the freedom to choose the lifestyle I want and do the work I love is the key to a lifetime of happiness.

With aspirations of attending a top British university, Howard enrolled at Tianjin Farragut School. From the very beginning, his academic talent became evident. The school tailored a “science-focused” strategy for him based on his academic aptitude and his goal of attending a British elite university: clearly focusing on core subjects such as mathematics, advanced mathematics, physics, and chemistry, while avoiding broad liberal arts expansion, and anchoring his professional direction through an “academic elite” pathway. “Here, being different is not an obstacle but a stepping stone to success,” he reflected on this experience.

Howard poses for a photo with teachers from the Commonwealth curriculum program.

Howard demonstrated a clear sense of purpose in his course selection, voluntarily challenging himself with international competitions such as the AMC 12, BPhO Round 1, and Physics Bowl D2 as early as his tenth grade. In his eleventh grade, he joined the U.S. LUMIERE research program under his mentor's recommendation, collaborating with Cambridge University astrophysics experts to complete a research paper. This experience of delving into academic fields from a “researcher's perspective” not only earned him high praise from his mentors but also became a highly persuasive “testament to his passion for the subject” in his Oxford application essays.

During the application season, the school's well-established “dual mentor system” proved to be a key asset. Subject mentors, who graduated from top universities and have extensive teaching experience, laid a solid academic foundation, while career planners with deep expertise in international study abroad programs oversaw the overall process.

When Howard hit an academic roadblock during the critical preparation phase for his Oxford interview, Gao Naisi, Vice President of FaYao Education Group, demonstrated the professional expertise of a top-tier scholar. As a multidisciplinary scholar with dual degrees in Mathematics and Finance from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Master's degree in Public Policy from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, Gao leveraged her unique advantage of having spent 15 years immersed in the top academic circles in the United States to provide Howard with highly strategic guidance.

From enhancing the academic rigor of the core arguments in his application essays to structurally optimizing his research design; from mastering the precise use of professional terminology in mock interviews to adopting an internationalized expression style for academic defenses—Ms. Gao, with her deep expertise in the interdiv of mathematical modeling and public policy, helped Howard establish an academic discourse system aligned with Oxford's standards. What is particularly valuable is that she seamlessly integrates the global perspective cultivated at Harvard Kennedy School with MIT's rigorous research methodology, ensuring that Howard's application materials not only demonstrate academic depth but also reflect a commitment to humanistic values.

Howard with Ms. Gao Naisi, Vice President of Fa Yao Education Group, and his mother

At the same time, college counseling teachers Ms. Li and Ms. Hang worked in perfect harmony, meticulously reviewing every detail from the framework of the application documents to the optimization of details, striving for excellence. They formed a closed-loop system between strategy formulation and implementation, providing comprehensive professional support throughout the entire application process.

It was precisely through the precise targeting of the initial strategy, the seamless collaboration of the mentor team, and his own relentless efforts that this application, which brought together the wisdom and hard work of many parties, ultimately won the favor of the University of Oxford.

He said: At present, there has been no breakthrough in the “theory of everything” that combines general relativity and quantum mechanics. My research is also in the field of general relativity black holes. I want to contribute to world physics, even if only a little.

Howard summarized his journey to Oxford with a proverb: “Those who plan early gain the upper hand; those who leverage resources go further.” In his sharing session with younger students, he repeatedly emphasized the importance of “precise self-assessment”: “High school is not a arena for blindly accumulating activities, but a golden period for finding one's academic direction.” In tenth grade, he used comprehensive assessments to lock in physics as his focus and concentrate on core competitions. In eleventh grade, he dedicated himself fully to research papers. In twelfth grade, he refined his application essays, each step meticulously timed to the rhythm of effective time management.

Howard attended the unveiling ceremony of the Center for Excellence and Innovation at Farragut School in Tianjin with his parents and sister.

At Farragut, students like Howard are not alone in their efforts. The school's Center for Excellence in Innovation and Talent Development provides systematic support for students who aspire to attend the world's top universities. The center integrates high-quality educational resources from home and abroad to build a three-dimensional training system that combines academic cultivation, innovation capabilities, and a global perspective. Through personalized academic planning, high-end competition coaching, and scientific research project incubation, the center helps students surpass themselves in academics, scientific research, and competitions.

Howard spoke as an outstanding student representative at the unveiling ceremony of the Center for Excellence and Innovation at Farragut School in Tianjin.

In Howard's view, Farragut's classrooms have always cultivated a “problem-solving mindset.” Whether it was analyzing real-world issues using physical models in PBL projects or designing his own optical experiments in the laboratory, he was subtly developing the habit of “thinking like a researcher.” These skills became the key to his success in responding to in-depth academic questions during his interview at Oxford.

Howard poses for a photo in front of the Farragut Offer Wall of Honor.

Now, as he prepares to depart for Oxford, he often recalls the days and nights he spent at the Farragut Laboratory—the late nights discussing black hole models with his mentor, the heated debates in class over competition questions, and the joy of completing his first independent research project. When asked what he hopes for himself ten years from now, he replied, “I hope that ten years from now, I will be a part of the physics research community and bring honor to my alma mater.”

Howard took a commemorative photo at school when he received the offer.

Dear teachers and classmates:

Three years have really flown by! I still remember how clueless I was when I first enrolled, and now I'm about to graduate. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has helped me along the way. First, I would like to thank the principal for the trust he has placed in me, and my homeroom teacher for his care and support. During the application season, Ms. Gao Naisi provided professional guidance, helping me revise my application documents multiple times, conducting mock interviews, and constantly encouraging me, which truly boosted my confidence! I also want to thank Ms. Li Jie and Ms. Hang for their patience in helping me refine the details of my application. I am truly grateful! Of course, I also want to thank my classmates for the nights we stayed up together and the days we worked hard together. I will always remember those times. No matter where I go in the future, I will carry the memories from here and the support of everyone with me as I continue to strive forward!  

—Howard

「 Note: The order of publication of "Profiles" will be arranged according to the time of appointment for interviews and the time of provision of information.」